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Though Harry never got to meet his parents, in reality, at least, he still was true to the Potter name and inherited many of their traits. From James' athletic abilities to Lily's humbleness, he was the best of the two combined. 

The couple's death was the trigger for most of the events in the Potter-verse, and though not alive, they lived in the memory of their son and the loved ones they had left behind. Naturally, Harry takes after the looks of his parents, and there are more than a few references from the books where people tell him that he looks like his parents. Even dying, Snape couldn't help but tell how his eyes were just like Lily's. However, the resemblance runs deeper than that. 

Characters like Remus Lupin and Sirius Black agree to Harry being like his parents, and more so like his father. Even the Hogwarts professors like Dumbledore, Slughorn, Minerva McGonagall, and eventually Snape draw a parallel between his personality and that of his parents. Here are all the traits of James and Lily that Harry takes after:-

Harry is a rule breaker.

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Being the son of James, Hogwarts' biggest troublemaker, Harry can not help but lean to the naughty side. The Chosen One just can't let a night of trespassing in the school's corridors pass out after lights are called out and sleep peacefully in his room. He earns countless detentions during his years at the magic school and then, of course, manages to mess up his time at detentions, too. 

James wasn't much different than Harry when he was studying at the school. He loved causing a bit of trouble and subjecting his friends to chaos, especially his nemesis, Snape. Though Harry didn't take after the cruel ways with which James treated poor Snape, he did manage to get his dad's flair for falling into the most trouble when at school or out. 

He comes with little sense of self-preservation

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Need a hero to save the world by sacrificing himself? Look no further than Harry Potter. The sassy child who always has the quickest quips, Harry puts little value on his life. The series showed over and over again how he would stand in the way of danger to save his friends and ultimately when he made the lonely walk to Voldermort in Deathly Hallows to save the magic world. His selfless act was an echo of his mother's sacrifice. 

Lily herself had fought until the last moment when she couldn't do anything but sacrifice herself in her son's stead so that the protection of her love could ride out the curse Voldermort was to bestow on her newborn son. Harry draws his courage from his adoring mother, who gave away her life to save his. Their last moments are hence basically the same and work on a principle that their selfless love would bring up enough protection so that all others are spared. 

Harry is a competent athlete

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Harry might not be great at Divination and Potions, but he sure will never allow a snitch to simply fly by. The celebrated Quidditch star earned a quick and deserved reputation for his extraordinary performance during the wizard world's most adored game. In doing so, he also gets to hold the title of being the Young Seeker in a Century. The only one to rival his brilliance in the game of Quidditch is his own father, James. 

Sirius, James' best friend and godfather to Harry, compliments Harry's remarkable skills saying how alike his talent is to his father. Many other characters gush about James' skill on the broom and as a seeker. In fact, James had a plaque to his name for being one of the greatest Quidditch players. And, just like his father, who was an equal to Snape in wandwork, especially during their famed duels where Snape could have used dark Magic, Harry knows how to battle the dark arts. He fights Voldermort and eventually defeats him during their final confrontation.

He doesn't tolerate bullies

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Harry and Draco Malfoy's animosity is greatly remarked upon in the series. He outright rejects Malfoy's invitation to be his friend because he doesn't want to associate with a self-righteous poor-blooded wizard who looks down on others. During the entire series, he stands strong against Malfoy and confronts him, especially when he bullies others.

He gets his high moral ground from his mother's side, who herself was intolerant of bullying activities. She stood against the cocky James and his friends when they poked fun at Snape and embarrassed him in front of their who class. She immediately calls an end to the attack and confronts James for his horrible act. Harry himself becomes highly disappointed in his father when he learns of the event when visiting "Snape's Worst Memory" in Order of the Phoenix. 

He trusts his friends with his life

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The Golden trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron can be seen descending into trouble head-on with no apparent plan but the company of each other very frequently. His friends are ultimately the only people with whom he would trust his secrets. From going on to hide with them and even burst into the devil's den, they are his only backup. He blatantly disagrees to dishonors his friends from the Order by pinpointing the blame on them for outsing his location.

He takes after his father in the regard who first chose Sirius and then Pettigrew as his Secret Keeper. Lupin sees Harry's trust in his associates and says that James would do something similar, too, and would regard distrusting his friends as the "height of dishonor." While James did pay with his life for his ill-placed trust, Harry turns out to be luckier.

He comes from a Muggle household

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Though being born to two wizard parents and also with the Potter name known for being one of the most influential wizard families, Harry is brought up in a Muggle household just like his mother. Taken in grudgingly when he was orphaned by the Dursleys, his Muggle aunt, and uncle, he had no knowledge of the magic world prior to his 11th birthday whatsoever. On the other hand, if he had been raised by the Potters, he would have learned about generations of wizards, especially his lineage that laid claim to the invisibility cloak.

Lily herself grew up in a Muggle family, albeit their friendly disposition towards their daughter when they learned that she was a witch, unlike the Dursleys that regarded magic with pure hatred. However, she had found a friend in Snape who himself was just learning of his magical abilities. But both Lily and eventually Harry step into the magical world with utter awe and reverence. The Muggle-born and brought up mother and son duo then grew up to save the magic world.